Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest man, gave out $1 million checks to gin up support for Donald Trump. California lawmakers want to ban big cash payments to registered voters.

The California Legislature has rejected many of the spending cuts Gov. Gavin Newsom is seeking to close a $12 billion budget deficit, relying on internal borrowing to put off difficult decisions.

A cost-of-living increase meant to help community colleges adjust to a new funding formula is expiring, leaving some districts to cut positions and classes.

A state report provided says 200 agencies reported no automation around sensitive decisions, ignoring the fact that some agencies report actions based on algorithms.

High poverty rates underscore the fact that Californians’ costs for housing, utilities, fuel and other necessities of life are among the nation’s highest.

Newsom’s Medi-Cal budget plan would shift money for voter-approved increases in doctors’ pay and reproductive care to cover other expenses. State spending on Medi-Cal has more than doubled since 2017 and is now projected to cost $76.8 billion.

As lawmakers rush through thousands of bills in Sacramento and make decisions in secret, regular Californians are often silenced.

To save more than $5 billion, the California governor wants to shut down new enrollment for adults who lack legal status and charge premiums. The Legislature has resisted such changes.

Republicans in the California Legislature are increasingly pushing Democrats on child sex crimes bills. The supermajority is growing more divided about it.

Google, oil companies and utilities helped push California lobbying to a record $540 million in 2024, up 10% from the year before.

A dozen bills proposed in Sacramento would make it harder to confront local officials at public meetings, shield more information from the public and relax rules on financial reports.

The proposed bill is likely to face pushback from businesses and legal challenges, primarily over the question of whether the bill would infringe on federal law.

AI can help businesses charge you more based on how it evaluates your personal history and desires. California lawmakers want to end that price discrimination.

California is the only state that doesn’t allow any tax exemptions on military retirement income.

Many California community colleges have tried — and failed — to secure state grants to build more student housing.

Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas pledged to tackle affordability in 2025, but Democratic lawmakers’ plans to address Trump cuts, housing costs, energy, insurance, grocery bills and inflation remain unclear.